Replace Wheel Bearings Without A Press?

[Thecatmilton]

Can you replace the wheel bearings in the front hubs and rear disk trailing arms without a press? Are there any rental tools that can do it? I would normally have a shop do it, but I was quoted $80-100 for that. I can't afford to have a shop do it until next month when I get paid.

[Uber Commuter]

You can always do this

[bassboy3313]

I just replaced the rear wheel bearings in my 323i trailing arms without a press. Takes some ingenuity to get the old ones out. I then rented a bearing/race driver tool from the auto store to install the new ones. Pretty simple.

[epmedia]

I've not had the fine opportunity to replace the rear wheel bearings yet.

You do not need a press for the front wheel bearings.

*Be sure to pop out the inner seal and wipe out as much grease possible for best visual of what you're dealing with.

You will need a medium sized pin punch, hammer, couple of 2x4 pieces of wood for bearing race removal.

To install the new races at home without expensive tools; trim a couple .001s of an inch off the old (outer diameter)bearing races with a grinding tool. Use these old trimmed bearing races as your install tool. *I say this because you do not want to use a pin punch to install new bearing races, because 59% chance you'll mess up.

[mxl556]

You do not need a press to replace bearings (front or rear) Good bearing puller tool would help.
When I replaced my front bearings I did not even have vice. I used an old race to press the new race in. Used a punch to remove old races but you have to be careful not to damage the hub.

I found this very useful:

https://www.bmw2002faq.com/articles....ntenance-r129/


Max